The chilly morning air grasped Civic's onyx black hair, mantling it like a thick silky banner, as he flew downwards. His golden wings cast a luminious glow over the landscape, glimmering above his shadow. His sharp eyes pierced through the cloudy dreariness, locating Valerie on the balcony of Mirror Castle.

With a large swoop, Civic descended, hovering just a few iremeters from the lilac marble floor. He wrapped his arms and wings around Valerie, feeling her respond to his warm touch. Valerie's tears crystallized with every kiss that enveloped her lips like a sip of decadent hot chocolate.

It was just hours after Demian stated his intention to marry Ariel as soon as possible. Feeling the heaviness of his responsibility concerning the mother of his child, Demian sought advice from Cydtin, the only irangel with any experience of engagement matters.

Cydtin was surprised to learn of Demian's rash decision, but he agreed to help Demian search for an engagement ring so he could propose to Ariel. Shortly after, Cydtin confided in Valerie and Civic, feeling this was something they should know, since it would greatly impact them.

It took immense will for Valerie to keep from breaking down and crying heavily. Demian deliberately distanced himself from Valerie, so Valerie considered it a final breakup, especially due to Demian's intention of marrying Ariel. Heartbroken that she wouldn't end up with her destined, Valerie retreated to her room and wept privately.

However, it was Demian who wept most, haunted with the knowledge of what had happened with previous Black Roses and their connected. He feared the awakened darkness, dreading its dark call. Mindful of Civic's suspicion and Ariel's jealousy, Demian decided to spend much of his time with Ariel, disregarding Valerie as though she didn't exist.

From an outside perspective, it was as though Demian was lovestruck with Ariel. But Cydtin knew Ariel was merely a distraction, that his outward affections were out of desperation to escape the darkness.

A story lingered in Demian's mind, the story of Monit's darkness against the Black Rose's everlasting love towards his connected. He supposed that if somebody had shown Monit the love he desired, perhaps he wouldn't have become a creature of darkness, a menace that sought to destroy.

Perhaps Monit saw Ireden as a symbol of what he once had, Demian thought in trying to understand the darkness. He used to be in the sunlight, but one fatal error saw to him a life of darkness. Separated from the light with severed wings, years of dwelling in the dark loneliness, it's no wonder he became such a malicious person.

Upon seeing Demian's unexpected infatuation with Ariel, Civic figured this was his chance to grow closer to Valerie. Their relationship had been strained before, but he wanted to form a stronger bond with the woman he loved. He knew she was hurting from Demian's distance.

While Civic comforted Valerie, Demian went with Cydtin to an Iredescent mall for the first time.

The crisp morning air and bright sunshine did much to improve one's mood. Demian felt the heavy stress evaporate as his wings took him towards a remarkable cascade of waterfalls that soared in between opalescent building structures, each one a different store. If laid out flat, the Iredescent mall would cover the entire country of Slovakia.

Instead of several individual stores dotted along a stretch of road or located in a designated shopping center, the Iredescent mall was a massive myriad of opalescent buildings that intertwined with waterfalls, providing cool water droplets that refreshed the skin upon touch.

Rainbows gleamed on the opal, refracting like a disco ball, throwing sparkles at every shining corner. Every store was partially filled with connected waterways that accommodated finned ones, allowing them to swim from store to store, while winged ones flew from store to store.

"Wow," was all Cydtin could say, amazed at the major difference and culture shock between an Earth mall and an Iredescent mall. "This isn't a mall; this is a city."

"You mean a country," said Demian, floored by the colossal vastness of the place. "This mall in particular is called Valvaliye. It means 'rainbow opal' in the Iredescent language."

"It appears that it is sectioned in usual parts, such as the food court, the men's clothing, the women's clothing, the kids' clothing, the accessories, the music, the bookstores, oh and candle stores!"

The danger of allowing Cydtin in a candle store was the same as allowing a hedgehog in a field of strawberries.

Cydtin encountered a Bath & Body Works store when he first met Neveah and visited Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Later, his home smelled like pumpkin marshmallow lattes. Coffee and candles were things that Cydtin absolutely loved and sometimes obsessed over. Especially ones with glitter.

"They might be having a sale," Cydtin started to say, already searching the minds of any shopper with candle-oriented aims to see if indeed there was a sale, but Demian pulled his attention away from the candles by saying, "Oh look, the ring store!"

Demian dragged Cydtin, pulling him inside the ring store, before he could get distracted by glittery candles.

"Planets, this store is so sparkly!" Cydtin said in amazement, blinking amid the multicolor shine of the store, every facet gleaming with sparkle. "The jewelry is even sparklier."

"Since when did you start saying 'planets'?" Demian asked as he looked over a silvery aventurine ring with a shine so metallic, it appeared as though the silver melted into the lovely light green gemstone.

"Since when did you start shopping for an engagement ring?" Cydtin countered, glancing sidelong at Demian.

"You know the reason. I need your expertise and intellect in the strange terrain of wedding proposals."

Cydtin glanced at a dark sapphire ring, responding, "Well, I suppose I am the only irangel with such experience."

After some time in the store, Cydtin said, "This is the one."

Tiny white diamonds and glossy aqua green beryl danced above streaks of gold, catching the metallic shine and scattering it over the matte black finish. There were thin cylindrical mirrors that interlocked with the tiny white diamonds, appearing almost like tiny doors.

He couldn't have picked a more perfect ring, Demian thought, amazed at the thoughtfulness of the ring structure, how it mirrored him and Ariel. He always associated aqua green color with Ariel. The white diamonds represented clarity, and the metallic shine was Ariel's love for him that shone over the prowling darkness, as black as night.

Whilst Cydtin placed the ring in a small, holographic jewelry bag, Demian asked, "Aren't you going to pick one?"

Cydtin dropped the bag, stammering, "Uh, no, I don't need to. Why?"

"For your future wife." Demian crouched to pick up the bag, tying it securely with a forest green ribbon. Seeing Cydtin's face, Demian playfully nudged his shoulder. "Hey, don't look so solemn. I am sure you'll find your future wife soon. She might even be in this mall."

"I don't know," Cydtin murmured, his thoughts drifting towards Kaylie. "Kaylie was the only woman I wanted to marry. I'm not even looking for a wife right now."

Fear lurked behind the past memories, causing Demian to realize a certain truth. "Don't be afraid to love again," Demian said quietly, wanting to dispel Cydtin's fear. "You lost Kaylie, but you won't lose the woman who will become your wife. I know you still want that."

Cydtin sighed heavily, feeling uncomfortable with the confrontation of his secret fear. "I don't want to talk about this. Let's go look at suits or something."

It was Demian's turn to be dragged into a store of Cydtin's choosing. Cydtin focused his attention on clothing, something he was fond of. He immediately felt better after smelling the store fragrance that reminded him of Armani Code by Giorgio Armani, a woody blend parfum that consisted of bergamot, iris aldehyde, orris, clary sage, cedar, and tonka bean.

Cydtin relaxed as he walked within the rows and rows of stylish suits for display. Having previously released his own clothing line in Armenia on planet Earth, Cydtin was beginning to consider releasing one on planet Iredescent.

It will definitely have lots of sparkle, Cydtin thought, formulating a suit idea in his mind. Perhaps I should start with purple, maybe add some grey –

"There you are," Demian said, appearing out of nowhere. "I see you already chose a suit. I also chose mine." He held up a forest green suit with intricate shimmer and lacing throughout the fabric, making the suit look like sunlight shining through forest trees.

Cydtin nodded approvingly. "That would look good on you," he said.

Demian took the suit he was holding. "Let's go to the front desk so they can wrap these up for us."

"You mean put it in a suit bag so it doesn't wrinkle or get folded up," said Cydtin. "Nice suits like these are meant to be kept hung up, never folded."

"Fortunately, I've got the suit expert with me," said Demian, glad to see Cydtin was feeling better.

As the two irangel men approached the front desk, Cydtin looked closely at the woman standing ahead of them in line, struck by her odd appearance. Her back was facing Cydtin and Demian as she listened to the storekeeper talk about the blazer she was wrapping for her.

It was easy to mistake the woman for a mirror, due to her metallic silver leather jacket and matching metallic silver pants that conformed nicely to her hourglass figure. Even her heeled boots were metallic silver, riding up to her knees, over her form-fitting pants. But it wasn't the stylish outfit that caught his attention, despite Cydtin having a keen eye for fashion; it was her hair.

The woman's hair literally looked like it was made of mirror, each strand more than your standard mirror shine. Cydtin's own reflection looked back at him in the woman's hair as he stared at it, bewildered by such an impossibility that was somehow possible. The woman's mirror hair was super long and straight, touching the floor.

Cydtin couldn't keep his eyes from the woman with mirror hair. She had holographic black wings that looked like an oil slick on pavement. When the woman looked to the side, allowing Cydtin to see her eyes, he was startled to see that her eyes changed colors, turning from crystal blue to a warm yellow.

Demian saw his starstruck eyes and grinned, feeling the urge to tease Cydtin's unexpected interest. I think I might be in love with youuuu, Demian started singing teasingly, the lyrics of an Iredescent pop song matching the mood Cydtin was in.

Cydtin immediately blushed and said, Cut it out, Demian! I'm not in love with –

"Cydtin Mikasian, the Galaxy Prince? What a pleasure to have you in our store!" the storekeeper exclaimed excitedly. "And Demian Daggers, the Creator of Irangels? Planets, what an honor!"

See? She says planets, Cydtin told Demian, keeping their mental conversation telepathic. He glanced at the woman with mirror hair, noticing that she had turned her attention towards them. Cydtin nervously hand a hand through his hair, thinking, Great, how do I look?

Like a Galaxy Prince, Demian responded to his thought, resisting the playful urge to smirk and nudge his fellow irangel.

Cydtin entertained the thought of shoving Demian into a wardrobe filled with stylish suits. Some time passed before Cydtin realized that everyone was staring at him; Demian with mischief, the storekeeper with perplexity, and the woman with mirror hair whose eyes had changed from warm yellow to distilled grey.

It would be so awkward if I tried to clear my throat. As if this situation wasn't awkward enough. Cydtin turned to address the woman with mirror hair, saying, "Hi, I'm Cydtin Mikasian. Didn't know I was famous around here."

The woman with mirror hair spoke for the first time, her accented voice reminding Cydtin of a Russian opera singer. "I'm Nuede Nade. It's nice to meet someone from another planet. Welcome to planet Iredescent."

Cydtin noticed her eye color changed from silver to light blue. "Likewise, and thank you," said Cydtin, liking how her name rhymed with suede.

Ever so polite, Demian said telepathically, unable to keep a smile from appearing on his face. It wasn't every day to see the dignified, confident Cydtin in such a lovestruck, shy state.

Cydtin ignored him, his voice becoming softer as he kept his eyes on the woman with mirror hair. "I can't help but notice your hair. It's very beautiful. How come your eyes change color? Is that an ability of yours?"

"I'm half Iredescent half Mijishian," Nuede explained. "I have a Mijishian father and an Iredescent mother. We lived on planet Mijishin until I was twelve, then we moved to planet Iredescent. Not all, but some Mijishian people have eyes that naturally change color, depending on mood and temperature. My father was one of the Mijishian people with dominant traits for such eyes, called camiliochs."

The storekeeper noticed Cydtin was smitten with Nuede and encouraged his interest, saying, "I heard the new Fansa Taura movie came out. I suggest you go see it. It's really good."

"Would you like to?" Cydtin asked Nuede, who tilted her head to the side as if pretending to consider, before she smiled radiantly and answered, "I would love to. Where at?"

"The Crown Theater at seven tonight. Would that work for you?" Cydtin said almost instantly, excited about the prospect of going out with someone for the first time on planet Iredescent, especially someone as unusually beautiful as Nuede. Since Kaylie's death, Cydtin hadn't looked for a date, content being alone. But Nuede interested him, striking him with her mirror hair and color changing eyes.

To his delight, Nuede nodded. "Sounds perfect. I'm off work today and for the next few days."

"Where do you work?" Civic found himself asking.

Nuede's eye color turned light pink as she gave him a cheekish smile. "I work for a mirror company." She took her shopping bag from the storekeeper and walked out of the store, saying, "See you at the Crown Theater tonight, Cydtin Mikasian."

Sweet! You've got your first date on planet Iredescent! Demian congratulated Cydtin as the storekeeper bagged their suits. Demian high-fived Cydtin as the two irangel men left the suit store. Unable to hold back his excitement, Demian said, "I'm so proud of you, Cydtin! You're finally not a bachelor anymore."

Before Cydtin could respond, Demian shoved an item at Cydtin and ran off, taking flight before Cydtin could chase him. Astounded by Demian's unusual playfulness, Cydtin shook his head and held onto the item, going over towards a wall to see what it was.

It was a ring bag from the ring store. After realizing he was an involuntary victim of Demian's prank, Cydtin examined the ring. His heart jumped when he saw it was a deep sapphire blue mixed with color-shifting holographic opal, atop a glistening mirror shine that embraced the silver. The ring changed colors each time he moved it, like a mini kaleidoscope of color and mirror.

He couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't just Demian hinting of what was to come. Cydtin wasn't sure if he believed in things like fate or destiny, but he did believe in things happening coincidentally or in ironic fashion. And it was most ironic that Demian selected a mirrored color-shifting ring for Cydtin just moments before Cydtin met the woman with mirror hair and color-changing eyes.